In Change, Palestinians Now Seek High-Profile Visits

Egypt's grand mufti, Ali Gomaa (center, with scarf), visits the Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem in April. The Dome of the Rock, which is part of the same compound, is shown behind him. Many Muslims have boycotted the site because Israel claims sovereignty. But Palestinian religious figures now say they welcome such visits, a move that has sparked controversy.

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Originally published on May 20, 2012 7:46 am

For decades, Muslims around the world have been unofficially boycotting Islam's third holiest site, the Al-Aqsa mosque Jerusalem.

Many Muslims believe that visiting legitimizes Israel's claim to the site, which also sits atop the holiest place in Judaism. The Palestinians, meanwhile, are seeking a state with a capital in east Jerusalem, where the mosque is located.

But Palestinian religious authorities at Al-Aqsa and Palestinian officials are now calling on Muslims to visit the shrine, a change that is creating controversy within the Palestinian community.

Last month one of Egypt's most important religious figures, Grand Mufti Ali Gomaa, came and prayed at the mosque.

The visit sparked an outcry, and he came under harsh criticism in many quarters. But in Jerusalem, Palestinian religious figures are pushing for more high-profile visits to the mosque, which is part of the larger compound known by Muslims as the Noble Sanctuary.

"We have a very clear position on this. We welcome and encourage these visits by Islamic leaders. The Noble Sanctuary is under Israeli occupation and such visits lift the siege from this sacred place," says Azzam Tamimi, the administrative head of the Noble Sanctuary.

Muslims run the mosque and the compound on a day-to-day basis, but Israel claims sovereignty. Israeli security forces are always in the vicinity and intervene whenever they choose.

Visits Could Help Palestinians

Tamimi believes the visits by Muslims from other countries bolster Palestinian claims to east Jerusalem, and he says the Arab boycott only serves Israel's interests.

"There are economic problems, social problems here. All that is because of the occupation," he says. "Having Muslims come here will help us economically and will see Palestinian hotels and shops flourish."

For centuries, Muslim pilgrims visited Jerusalem on their way to the two holiest sites in Islam — Mecca and Medina, which are in Saudi Arabia. But in the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, Israel captured east Jerusalem from Jordan. Israel subsequently annexed east Jerusalem and says the entire city belongs to Israel, though no other nation recognizes that claim.

The Muslim shrine was built some 1,300 years ago atop the ruins of the ancient Jewish temples, the holiest sites in Judaism. Jews pray daily at the Western Wall, a retaining wall still standing from the days of the temple.

Israel, meanwhile, has had its best year ever for tourism, and most of the visitors have been Christian or Jewish.

Recently there has been an uptick in Muslim visitors, a few thousand tourists mostly from the Far East and India. But that's only a tiny fraction of the overall total.

Israel says it welcomes tourists from all faiths.

Visas Hard To Get

But the Palestinan minister for religious affairs, Mahmoud Habash, says it's extremely difficult to get visas for dignitaries coming from the Arab world.

He says half the members of a recent delegation from Bahrain were denied visas by Israeli authorities. Still, Habash, who is based in the West Bank city of Ramallah, says Muslims should at least try to visit Jerusalem.

"This boycott only serves those who want to see Muslims in Jerusalem isolated and besieged," he says. "It only serves the Israeli occupation. It's a mistake that has to be corrected. Muslims need to reconnect with the Noble Sanctuary."

Not so, says independent Palestinian analyst Hani al-Masri. He says the boycott needs to continue. He says simply dealing with the Israelis on the issue of getting a visa or a permit legitimizes the occupation.

"Israel has control over who comes into the Noble Sanctuary," he says. "Look at the photographs of the dignitaries when they come to the Al-Aqsa mosque. They are accompanied by Israeli security. I think we should first work on getting Palestinians permits to come and pray in Jerusalem rather than foreigners."

He points to the fact that most Palestinians in the West Bank are not even allowed to enter Jerusalem.

In a random sampling of Palestinians just outside the gates of the mosque compound, most agreed with the boycott.

Mital Kufr Ani says she doesn't support Arabs and Muslims coming from abroad to visit the Noble Sanctuary while "we are under occupation." Let them come, she says, "when we are free."

For decades now, Muslims around the world have been unofficially boycotting Islam's third holiest site in Jerusalem, the Al-Aqsa mosque. Many in the Arab world believe that visiting the compound would legitimize Israel's rule over the city, but religious authorities at Al-Aqsa and Palestinian officials are now calling on Muslims to come, anyway.

As NPR's Lourdes Garcia-Navarro reports, that's creating a lot of controversy within the Palestinian community.

LOURDES GARCIA-NAVARRO, BYLINE: Last month, Egypt's grand mufti, one of the leading Islamic clerics in the country, came to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque. The controversial visit sparked an outcry in the Arab world and he came under harsh criticism, but in Jerusalem, Palestinians are pushing for more high profile visits like that one.

AZZAM TAMIMI: (Foreign language spoken).

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Azzam Tamimi is the administrative head of the Noble Sanctuary, the compound that houses the Al-Aqsa mosque.

TAMIMI: (Through translator) We have a very clear position on this. We welcome and encourage these visits by Islamic leaders, but Noble Sanctuary is under Israeli occupation and such visits lift the siege of this sacred place.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: He believes the visits by Muslims bolster Palestinian claims to East Jerusalem, which Palestinians want as the capital of their future state. Tamimi says the Arab world boycott only serves Israel's interests.

TAMIMI: (Through translator) There are economic problems, social problems here. All that is because of the occupation, so having Muslims come here will help us economically and we'll see Palestinian hotels and shops flourish.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: For centuries, Muslim pilgrims visited Jerusalem on their way to Mecca and Medina, but that stopped after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War and Israel's annexation of East Jerusalem.

Israel has had its best year ever for tourism, most of them Christian and Jewish. Recently, there has been an uptick in Muslim visitors. A few thousand tourists, mostly from the Far East and India, have come, but it's a tiny fraction of the overall total.

Israel says it welcomes tourists from all faiths, but the Palestinian minister for religious affairs, Mahmoud Habash in Ramallah, says it's extremely difficult to get visas for dignitaries coming from the Arab world. He says half the members of a recent delegation from Bahrain would deny visas by the Israeli authorities. Still, Habash says, Muslims should at least try and come here.

MAHMOUD HABASH: (Through translator) This boycott only serves those who want to see Muslims in Jerusalem isolated and besieged. It only serves the Israeli occupation. It's a mistake that has to be corrected. Muslims need to reconnect with the Noble Sanctuary.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Not so, says independent Palestinian analyst, Hani al-Masri. He says the boycott needs to continue. He says simply dealing with the Israelis on the issue of getting a visa or a permit legitimizes the occupation.

HANI AL-MASRI: (Through translator) Israel has control over who comes to the Noble Sanctuary. Notice the photographs of the dignitaries when they come to the Al-Aqsa mosque. They're accompanied by Israeli security. I think we should first work on getting Palestinians permits to come and pray in Jerusalem rather than foreigners.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: He says these visits give the erroneous impression that Israel allows freedom of worship. He points to the fact that most Palestinians in the West Bank are not even allowed to enter Jerusalem.

Back in the old city just outside the gates of the mosque compound, most Palestinians we spoke with agreed with the boycott.

MITAL KUFR ANI: (Foreign language spoken).

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Mital Kufr Ani says, I do not support the coming of Arabs and Muslims to the Noble Sanctuary while we are under occupation. Let them come, she says, when we are free.